Dust Buster Music Ed App for Piano
This music education app review is for: Dust Buster
Kid/Student Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: *****5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Price: $FREE
Recommended: 4 years and up
Skills Developed: Reading that piano music! Identifying note names, reading staff line notation, playing songs, rhythm, hand-eye coordination, memorizing key locations on the piano.
App Tested on iPad
Good Stuff about this music ed app: From Old McDonald to Swan Lake and Vivaldi this app has quite a range. I’d say learning where the notes are on the keyboard is a cinch with this app.
I’ve shown this app to many parents and students over the course of the past couple of weeks and they all agree that it is muy excelente!
Read MoreMusic App for Guitar Learners -Wild Chords
This review is for: Wild Chords
Kid/Student Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: ***** 5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Price: $FREE
Age Recommended: 6 and up
Skills Developed: Beginning Guitar Skills including Chords, Notes, Reading Tablature, Playing on the Beat
App Tested on iPad (for iPad only)
Good Stuff about this music ed app: I’m excited to shout that I’ve found another favorite app! This app is super fun and educational to boot. Learning guitar players will have an enormous amount of fun playing this one. Even if you have never touched a guitar before, you can play this game and by the time you read the end, you’ll really be on your way to having your own garage band!
You get to use your real guitar while playing this app which means you’re learning to play your real instrument. A hip looking dude is your avatar and as you play the chords indicated, you hypnotize the wild animals into following you around. You have to play the chords on the beat. The farther into the game you get, the more chords you know and the more fun the songs begin to sound.
This game also teaches you how to read tablature! Perfect!!
Listen to my podcast (04) interview with the developer of Wild Chords:
Our wish list: Sometimes even the most advanced guitar player can’t make the app happy as far as it hearing your notes right on time. Those darn birds just keep popping your balloons. Possibly there’s a timing glitch? Or, maybe we need to keep practicing. :)
My Love: I absolutely love the tablature learning portion of this app. What an important skill! Every guitar player needs to know how to read in TAB. I can’t think of a more fun way to practice than to focus on keeping those birds on the telephone wires. Seriously good idea!
Summary: All-in-all we feel that guitar learners should not skip this app. It’s fun and extremely educational. And… it receives our FAVORITE APP AWARD for this month! Congratulations, developers. We love you!
Purchase Wild Chords on iTunes for iPad for: $FREE
Note: this app is only available for iPad.
Have you already downloaded and used this app? Leave us a comment to let us know what you think. Thanks. -Rebecca
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Read MoreBlob Chorus Music Education App Review
This review is for: Blob Chorus
Kid/Student Ratings: **** 4/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 4/5
Educational Value: Excellent
Price: $FREE
Age Recommended: 5 and up
Skills Developed: Ear Training, Recognizing Specific Pitches
App Tested on iPad
Good Stuff about this music ed app: The giggling begins right as you open this app, it’s really funny! The blob chorus treats you to a quick rendition of their “Blob” song and then when you go to use the resource (play the game) they separate. The idea is that you listen very carefully to the pitches the Blobs sing and then the King Blob sings one of those same pitches. You have to tap on the correct Blob to win points.
Read MoreMusic Ed App Review Monkey Drum
This review is for: Monkey Drum FREE (There is also a deluxe version of this app)
Kid/Student Ratings: **** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 4/5
FREE iPhone
FREE iPad
Educational Value: Excellent
Price: $Free
Age Recommended: 4 – 12
Skills Developed: Rhythm exploration, percussion instrument exploration, rhythm repeat, percussion song composition
App Tested on iPad
Good Stuff about this app: I’ll admit I wasn’t sure about this app at first. I am always analyzing for educational content. But I’ll tell you that after watching my son and a couple of cousins return to it over and over for fun and creativity, it has won me over. And, I love that it is FREE. (no ads)
The idea is that you “jam” on real sounding percussion instruments and little jungle animals copy your rhythm exactly back to you. The animals have funny reactions as you are allowed to feed them bananas to reward them. It really is pretty cute. The young boys seem to really enjoy these reactions.
The best part of the app is the composition section where you create songs using a vertical grid. You can then save your songs and watch the animals perform them for you. It’s really pretty darn fun.
I have a 10 year old drummer in the house and he can’t keep his hands off this app lately.
Our Wish List: The composition area of the app seemed hard to navigate at first. It was unclear what to do or how to save the songs created. The kids also didn’t understand that you could make several sections to each song, but after playing with it for a while (and clicking the help button), we got it figured out.
My Love: I really love the composition page of this app. It’s great that you can earn/unlock more instrument the more you play. There is a tempo control, and it appears that your compositions can have endless sections to them. The kids have really had a hay day with it!
Summary: All-in-all we think percussion enthusiasts will get a bang out of this app! It’s a really great way to use creativity and rhythm and wrap it into a whole lot of fun. Can I say “I Love FREE educational apps” ?
Purchase Monkey Drum on iTunes for iPad for: $FREE
Purchase Monkey Drum on iTunes for iPhone/Pod for: $FREE
Have you already downloaded and used this app? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. Thanks -Rebecca
Read MoreInversion Invasion
This review is for: Inversion Invasion
Kid/Student Ratings: **** 4/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: *** 4/5
FREE
Educational Value: Excellent
Price: $Free (with ads)
Age Recommended: 5 – 13
Skills Developed: Piano chords: Major Triads, Minor, Sus, 7ths, and inversions of all.
App Tested on iPad (designed for iPad only)
Good Stuff about this app: This app was designed for young game enthusiasts who are learning to play the piano. Teachers who require that students learn their chords will flip for this game. First, it sucks you in with astronaut talk and then a mechanical voice states that you are going to have an “inversion invasion”. The idea is then to play the correct chords on the keyboard (on the iPad). Each piano key hit triggers a ray gun and blasts the alien who is in its path.
How much fun is that? Pretty darn, if you ask me.
I had 2 younger boys play this game as testers. They were sucked in immediately.
The good thing is that you don’t really have to have your chords and inversions memorized before playing this game. It teaches you just by repetition of the game.
Our Wish List: I watched the kids play though mission 8 and started wondering why there wasn’t a feature that would give more points to those who could identify the chord correctly before the aliens showed them the keys. It seems that there was no motivation to think of it on their own because the aliens would pop on and reveal the answer.
My Love: I love an app that will get a 10 year old boy to practice his chords and their inversions for a half of an hour without getting bored. Nuf said. :)
Summary: All-in-all we feel that this app is really quite cool and targets an audience of learners who are attracted to games like this. Chords and their inversion can be a difficult skill to master quickly, but that seems to be no problem after using this app for a week or two.
Purchase Inversion Invasion on iTunes for iPad for: $FREE
Have you already downloaded and used this app? Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought. -Rebecca
Read MoreApp for Music Education Mozart Interactive
This review is for: Mozart Interactive
Kid/Student Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 4/5
FREE
Educational Value: Excellent
Price: $ Free
Age Recommended: 2 – 12 years
Skills Developed: Listening Repetition and Interaction
App Tested on iPad
Good Stuff about this app: Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca has never been so much fun! This tune has been running around our home for the past week now. The kids are playing it on all instruments since we have heard it so much. The visual technology of this app really gives it an edge. I felt like I was watching a new pixar movie! It really is very engaging.
The cutest 10 year old is the host of the event. He gives an outstanding performance on the piano while other animated “human-like” instruments wish to join
Read MoreMusic Ed App Review for Sheet Music Direct
This review is for the music education app: Sheet Music Direct
Kid/Student Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 4/5
Educational Value: Excellent
Price: $FREE
Age Recommended: All Ages of established musicians
Skills Developed: Music Library Organizer, Key Transposer, Practice Helper
App Tested on iPad (available only on iPad)
Good Stuff about this app: Well, well my life just became easier… again. This app is really quite revolutionary. I know I’ve said that before, but these developers never cease to amaze me. Gigging musicians will flip for this app.
With this free app (yes, free- no ads), you gain an instant music library right
Read MoreHappy Friday! Dr. Seuss Band is now FREE
Happy Friday everyone!
The Dr. Seuss musical instrument game app for iPad/Pod/Phone is now FREE on the app store. I hope you will spread the news and have the opportunity to check it out for yourself if you haven’t already.
Here is a link to my review. Maybe you will remember that this game was played like crazy here during the holidays.
-Rebecca
Read MoreRecorder Master
This review is for Recorder Master
Kid/Student Ratings: **** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: **** 5/5
FREE
Educational Value: Superior
Price: $FREE
Age Recommended: 4-12 yrs.
Skills Developed: How to play the recorder instrument including: ear training, fingering, breath control, timing, concentration.
App Tested on iPad
Good Stuff about this app: I have been bursting at the seams with excitement over this app. I couldn’t wait to share it with my readers. Before I go any further let me just let you know that I don’t think any more fun can be had learning to play the recorder.
I used 5 different kids to test this one and they all begged to not have to stop playing the game. Ha, they didn’t even realize the great skills they were learning!
Read MoreFREEBIE Day! Jazzy Day
Hey Hey! I am super excited to announce that I am holding a drawing today for a Promo Code worth $4.99. I have reviewed this delightful app called: Jazzy Day – Swinging With The Big Band. I really liked it a lot. See the full review here. I contacted the developer and he gave me a Promo Code to give to my readers! Yeah!!!
Your young ones will immediately fall in love with this app. It is an interactive book all about the characteristics of the Big Band including the music and the instruments typically used to play jazz. How neat!
(How to win the) FREEBIE Details:
If you would like to win, all you have to do is let me know why you want to win! Sound easy? It is.
I will enter your name each time you do any of the following:
1. Leave a comment with your desire and qualifications below this post.
2. If you have not yet subscribed to this blog, do so (red box in the right side bar )
3. Like MusiciansWithApps on Facebook. here
4. Follow MusiciansWithApps on Twitter. here
5. Share this post on any networking site. You can use the convenient shareaholic buttons at the bottom of this post. Please leave me a comment letting me know how you shared this post.
6. Like Jazzy Day – The Melody Book on Facebook. here
Each time you complete one of the 5 steps above, your name will be entered in the drawing. You will want this app! Your children will be amused and educated by the cute kittens as they visit the Jazz Big Band and meet the musicians. This music education app uses real instrument sounds. This app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and is very simple to use. It’s price is $4.99. My FREEBIE to you today!!
This contest ends at midnight on Thursday, February 2, 2012.
Good Luck!
Rebecca
Read MoreZZZ FREE – Drift Away To Sleep
App Name: ZZZ FREE – Drift Away To Sleep
Kid Tester Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: ***** 5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Price: $FREE ($0.99 upgrade later if desired)
Age Recommended: 0 and up
Skills Developed: Song repetition with Ease
App Tested on my iPad
Good Stuff About This App: I have been a Suzuki Music Mom for 18 years, and let me tell you… this app makes getting all of that listening done easy. Really. I remember spending hours “dubbing” my kids’ song onto cassettes so I wouldn’t have to rewind Cuckoo over and over for my 4 year old. Then came the “automatic rewind tape”. I thought I was in heaven. (giggle) Then I moved into making play lists on my computer media player and burning disc after disc of Bach Minuets. More recently came the iPod dock with auto repeat. The only problem I still had was that every night I still had to go into his room after he fell asleep to turn the machine off. …….enter “ZZZ”.
It’s my happy day! I open this program
Read MorePluto Piano
App Name: Pluto Piano (Pluto Learns Piano)
Kid Tester Ratings: ***** 5/5
Teacher/Parent Ratings: ***** 5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Price $FREE
Recommended Ages: 4 and up
Skills Developed: Note Reading, Song Recognition/Repetition, Music Enthusiasm, Timing, Pitch
App tested on: iPad
Good stuff about this app: I’m not sure if I can say enough about this app. It is absolutely amazing! If you haven’t downloaded it yet,
Read MoreDooDah
App Name: DooDah
Kid Testers Ratings: ***** 4/5
Mom/Teacher/Adult Ratings: *****5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Fun Factor: low MEDIUM high
Price: $FREE
Recommended Ages: 1 and up
Skills Developed: Note Placement and Pitch Recognition Treble and Bass Clef
Reviewed on: iPad (available for iPhone as well)
Good stuff about this app:
This app is a super alternative to those flash cards. It not only is great for visual music staff/notes exploration but can be used for pitch recognition as well. I love it because the kids enjoy watching DooDah as I quiz them on
Young Music Genius -Classical Wiz
App Name: Young Music Genius -Classical Wiz
Kid/Teen Testers Ratings: ***** 4/5
Mom/Teacher/Adult Ratings: *****5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Fun Factor: low MEDIUM high
Price: $FREE
Recommended Ages: 3 and up
Skills Developed: Classical Music, Composers and Instrument Recognition
Reviewed on: iPad (available for iPad )
Good stuff about this app: Where to start? I can’t believe this app is FREE. It’s really quite neato. First good thing is that right when you open the app you are immediately greeted by the London Philharmonic performing Mozart right to you! (Marriage of Figaro)
I know this app appears to be geared towards a younger crowd, but where was this when I was in
Rhythm Repeat
App Name: Rhythm Repeat
Kid/Teen Testers Ratings: **** 4/5
Mom/Teacher/Adult Ratings: **** 4/5
Educational Value: Very Good
Fun Factor: low medium HIGH
Price: $.99
Recommended Ages: 8 and up
Skills Developed: Rhythm Repetition
Reviewed on: iPad (available for iPad, iPhone, iPod)
My 9 year old (drummer) son has kept me hopping with this one. He is hooked. We really liked this app this week! It’s a simple “repeat this rhythm” game on steroids.
Good stuff about this app:
Trae and I worked on this app for more than a week now as well as some of my teen students. There are more than 300 different melodies and rhythm patterns featured on this app. The idea is to listen and watch as the pattern is played, and then repeat it back as
My Note Games
App Name: My Note Games
Kid Testers Ratings: **** 4/5
Mom/Teacher Ratings: ***** 5/5
Educational Value: Superior
Price: ($FREE introductory) or $5.99 (bundle)
Recommended Ages: All (even though it is designed for kids, I used it for pitch training for myself with my voice, and found it challenging and really pretty darn fun).
Skills Developed: Note Reading
Reviewed on: iPad/iPhone (available for both)
I have had several students, my own children, and myself test this app over the course of 2 weeks. And, the consensus is…..(drumroll)… we LOVE it!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
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About Me
Hi, I’m Rebecca. I am an active music teacher, a professional performing musician, and a mom of young musicians with apps. I love apps! The speed and ease of learning is incredible with today’s technology and I tend to use it to its fullest. I aim to only feature the best of the best here. Join Me! Categories
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